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European aquaculture in fresh water: its place and its future in the globalisation of the markets for the fish products

Aquaculture in fresh water is a major branch of European aquaculture, but its products have a relatively low market value in relation to production costs, and the profit margin of the producers is reduced. Moreover, market demand of fresh water species, other than trout and carp, is very limited in Europe.

Among the marketing problems for the fresh water aquaculture products, one notes:

• price instability;
• difficulties of diversification; 
• limited product range, based on a small number of species presented in forms not always adapted to the modern food market;
• lack of quality commercial information, and
• underdevelopment of promotion.

It is unlikely to see significant growth of fresh water fish market demand in the near future, if initiatives are not taken to change the current tendency.

Future developments are to be considered in an international strategic context. Substantial changes are likely in the supplied markets and in the nature of the sought products.

The following topics were identified for a debate on the future development of European aquaculture in fresh water:

• durability of the sector; balancing as much as possible potentially contradictory priorities: low environmental impact, low energy consumption, low use of fish meal and high acceptance by the consumer (quality of the final product);

• supply of products to the consumers, diversification and development of the market and of the products, upholding of the standards of health, of hygiene and of environmental protection, without handicapping the European producers with respect to imports;

• stability; to ensure the safety of supplies and a context favourable to investments for the producers; concentration, effectiveness, economies of scale;

• internationalisation of the markets, of the regional competition, of the access to the resources; acceptable support strategies; impact of environmental and other legislation on competition; opportunities for the European industry in the global market; impact of the other internationalised channels of the agri-foodstuff on aquaculture, and

• integration of aquaculture in broader systems of general policy and of management.